Effective Sunburn Treatment: Home Care, Relief, and When to Seek Help

Sunburn is UV-induced inflammatory skin injury. Most are first-degree; severe cases require medical attention.

Immediate Care (First 24–48 Hours)

• Get out of sun.
• Cool skin: Cool (not ice-cold) baths/showers, wet compresses.
• Hydrate: Oral fluids; topical aloe vera, fragrance-free moisturizer, or petroleum jelly on damp skin.
• Pain control: NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) reduce inflammation and pain.
• Don't pop blisters. If ruptured, clean gently, apply antibiotic ointment, non-adherent dressing.

Ongoing Care (Days 3–7)

• Continue moisturizing to minimize peeling.
• Strict sun avoidance; UPF clothing, broad-spectrum SPF 30+.
• No exfoliants, retinoids, acids until healed.
• Hydrate; antioxidant-rich foods (vitamin C, E).

Seek Medical Care If:

• Blistering >20% BSA (body surface area)
• Fever, chills, nausea, confusion (sunstroke)
• Signs of infection: increasing pain, pus, red streaks
• Severe pain unresponsive to OTC meds
• Infants, elderly, or immunocompromised

Prevention

• SPF 30+ broad-spectrum; reapply every 2 hours, after swim/sweat.
• Seek shade 10 AM–4 PM.
• Wide-brim hat, UV-blocking sunglasses, UPF clothing.
• Don't use tanning beds.

Repeated sunburns increase melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer risk cumulatively.